"Stafford didn't realize it when he sat before television cameras in Athens, Ga., Wednesday, but he sadly endorsed his professional football death warrant.

When the junior Georgia quarterback declared for the NFL draft, he basically told the Lions, 'Take me, I'm yours' — a submission that, if history serves as an accurate barometer, might cost him his sanity as well as his self-confidence."

The good news is that Matt Millen is no longer in charge of the Detroit franchise. With Millen gone, there is a chance that he hasn't signed up for heart break. The other good news...the Falcons and Dolphins looked almost as terminally broken this time last year.

38
comments:

Seth
said...

Not that it takes personal experience to know how badly Stafford should want to avoid Detroit, but I did spend part of my youth in metro Detroit. Avoid at all costs, Mr. Stafford. Him becoming Joey Harrington, Jr., is a very real possibility.

I don't think you can compare the situation with the Lions to the Falcons and Dolphins. Detroit is bad in ways that the 2007 Falcons, even with a dog torturer and Petrino, could never touch. Plus Miami and Atlanta aren't soul-killing burnt-out urban hellholes.

Detroit is an urban apocalypse; it's Thunderdome with worse weather and a higher murder rate. And the Lions make the 07 Falcons look like the 70s era Steelers. I hope Stafford can somehow luck into getting drafted by the Chiefs, who don't seem to be quite the career graveyard that the Lions are.

The one thing Detroit has going for it? No distractions. In Miami or Atlanta Stafford would likely be assaulted by scantily clad lovelies as soon as he walked out the door.

In Detroit, he'd spend 20 minutes just shoveling the depressing gray slush out of the doorway, and will likely instead just stay inside lounging with his playbook on a king sized bed stuffed with cash.

For a guy who stated one of the reasons he beleived he was ready to go pro was that he had lived in a house this year and had become mature, I really do not believe he understands what he has gotten into. If he does a disappearing act on the field like he has done over the last three years during games, there will be other people there to take his place. I wish him well but he is not ready. He better save any signing bonus he gets. When the pro scouts take a look at the first half of the Bama game and the Florida game, he may be drafted in the second round not the first round.

Atlanta > Detroit, mainly because the ATL has an owner with the stated goal of getting better. Detroit's owner is like Al Davis 2.0, except instead of being too involved he never shows up. The Ford's seem content to own a team, no matter how bad they are.

Going to the Chiefs would be infinitely better. Despite some struggling years, the Chiefs are the main event in KC and draw pretty solid attendance numbers. It's a team that wants to win in a pretty average division.

totally agree with some of the above: i've been in some god-awful places all over the world, but i've never felt as degraded by simply visiting a place as i did on two occasions in detroit. it is the absolute ass-rim of america.

The Lions would be crazy to draft him. Again, I think when Bobo says "he's ready," I think he means in term of being able to read defenses. make the right throws, put the ball in the right place against a man-to-man defense with blitzers in your face. But anon 11:53 is right about his intellectual and emotional preparation. And let's be honest, it ain't like he dominated in college, though I do think he has shown that he is capable of improvement.

Good point JAdams. He was often a no show against us, but the rest of the time Calvin was just a grown ass man among boys. He's one of only a handfull of instate prospects we've lost out on the Richt era who I really, really regret not getting.

Detroit is great. The citizens have elected brilliant leaders like Kwame Kilpatrick who have taken the city to new heights. I heard the next mayor may be Marion Berry or Jesse Jackson, Jr. That would be great. The minority leadership combined with the muslim influence of Dearbonistan would transform Detroit from 3rd-world American city to 1st world terrorist enclave.

Matt $$$tafford. What he's all about. Let's face it, this isn't Leinart coming back to SC and costing himself millions, which was probably more a result of his lifestyle than on field accomplishments or pedigree. Could Stafford have really been any worse at times next season? Any more 'Jekyll & Hyde' erratic?? The only thing worrisome at all should have been injury, something understandable in Knowshon's decision. But #7 would have likely had the best line with the most depth during his entire tenure. Championships? Admittedly not important. So go on with your bad self, Matty. Million dollar arm, hundred dollar results. You and Detroit are perfect for each other by my estimation, at least your disappointments up there are somewhat expected...

Stafford will regret this decision. He's a DGD and I wish him the best, but he's not ready. At all. He will barely be 21 years old when he starts training camp, and I have it on good authority from many "lovelies," to use MaconDawg's word, in Athens that he's far from mature. I hope he proves me wrong!

Well, it took little time for the PC police to show up. Actually, anon 2:24 is correct - Detroit has been a victim of poor leadership and morality - Kwame being the latest example. Doesn't make Shirley Franklin a bad leader, just those who inhabit the political halls of Detroit, Michigan. It is what it is, policeman.

But hey - we can argue all day with the PC police and just ignore the facts. May want to slap a bitch wearing a turban while you're at it.

Stafford made the decision to go pro early knowing that there was a good chance he'd go to Detroit. So if he does end up there, I won't feel sorry for him because he made the decision, and he'll get what he wanted anyway ($$$).

So what are you suggesting, Anon 2:09? Please clarify. I could infer that you're a Confederate-flag-waving Georgia redneck racist who thinks that all minorities and muslims are corrupt terrorists, but that can't be right, so please, explain what you mean.

rbrup,i was simply making examples of failed politicians who preside over 2 of america's worst cities. Nothing more. sure their are plenty of majority mayors who have done wrong - none come to mind directly - but i'm quite sure they're out there.

you could respond and make the argument that Illinois/chicago governor Rob Blago is a prime example of corruption at many levels - and by a white guy at that. Problem is, his state and primary city has done quite well since he's taken office. He was very popular with is constituency. It's obvious now that he is pathological liar and not worthy of any office. Kwame and this Baltimore chick have run their respective cities into the ground - and make no apologies. They do love to make excuses for their actions by calling their detractors "racists" and "bigots". Blago doesn't blame the blacks of his state for his problems.

So call me what you want rburp. But don't forget to call me realistic and pragmatic.

"As of October 13, 2008 (well before Blagojevich's arrest), an unprecedented 0% of Illinois voters rated him "excellent" in a Rasmussen poll, with 4% rating him "good", 29% "fair", and 64% "poor".[62] Blagojevich ranks as "Least Popular Governor" in the nation according to Rasmussen Reports By the Numbers."-wikipedia

By apologizing for Blagojevich and misrepresenting his record you have illustrated exactly the double-standard that has existed in this country for hundreds of years while disproving the one you think exists.

Back to Stafford. Matt is a great player and was fun to watch at UGA. I wish him great success. I am not sure that leaving as a junior serves a quarterback well. I think the Mannings are correct about the extra time for maturity. I hate to see the kid in Detroit, but wish him the best.